by Charley Piringi
in Honolulu
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says his government will use this week’s Pacific Agenda Investment, Security, Shared Prosperity Summit in Honolulu to push for partnerships that deliver jobs, protect landowners and expand opportunities for the country.
The Prime Minister, accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes the Ministers for Finance, Planning, and Foreign Affairs, is presently attending the two-day Pacific Investment Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Speaking exclusively to In-depth Solomons in Honolulu ahead of the summit, Manele said Solomon Islands is not simply seeking investment figures on paper, but “real commitments that translate into employment, infrastructure and long-term value for our people.”
“We want investment that supports our national development priorities, especially in rural provinces where most of our population lives,” he said.
Acknowledging the United States Government for hosting the event, Manele said “Our primary objective is to engage constructively with the US government which is aligned to the government principle of ‘Friends to all and enemy to none policy.”
He confirmed that priority sectors include sustainable agriculture, fisheries, tourism, renewable energy, infrastructure and value-added processing.
“The Government aims to attract investors willing to process tuna, cocoa and copra locally rather than exporting raw products,” Manele said.
“We are here to identify strategic economic opportunities and investments that are suitable to our context, that are also mutually beneficial to both countries. That is where jobs are created, when we add value here at home,” he added..
Manele said that foreign investment must not come at the expense of customary landowners or natural resources.
He said safeguards would include stricter compliance with environmental laws, clearer land agreements and stronger monitoring of project delivery.
“We have existing land reform programs that help our people but we will not support investment that exploits our land or leaves communities worse off,” he said.
The Prime Minister also indicated the government will advocate for fairer access to finance for small and medium-sized Solomon Islands businesses, noting that local entrepreneurs must not be crowded out by foreign capital.
“Our SMEs must grow alongside foreign investors. Development must be inclusive,” he said.
The two-day summit, which officially starts tomorrow, is a senior-level, invitation-only forum designed to advance viable investment across the Pacific.
It brings together leaders from the Pacific Islands, representatives from the private sector, and senior US Government officials.
The Summit will explore investment opportunities in the region across key sectors including infrastructure, critical minerals, and supply chains; the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and telecommunications; energy security; tourism; agriculture and food security; health systems; and banking and financial services.
Furthermore, it will explore the new horizons of US government investment in the region, including through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the International Trade and Development Administration (TDA), the Export-Import Bank, and other relevant agencies.
Through these dialogues, Summit attendees will strengthen cooperation, align priorities, and advance shared economic goals, while supporting shared prosperity through long-term growth and development across the region.
Prime Minister Manele will be making his presentation at the summit tomorrow.
